Pocket lighter



June 3, 1930. A POLLAK ET AL 1,760,995

POCKET LIGHTER Filed Jan. 28, 1928 u@ IIII l umsunnu "ma 'V ATTORNEY` Patented `lune 3,- 1930 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFicE ABRAHAM POLL-AK, OF FAR ROCKAWAY, NEW YORK, AND JOSEPH F. OBRIEN, OF ENGLEWO0D,'NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO GLARK LIGHTER CO. INC., A CORPORA- TIOZN 0F MARYLAND POCKET LIGHTER Application led January .28, 1928. Serial No. 250,112.

This invention relates to improvements in pocket lighters and more particularly to that type of lighter wherein a wick is ignited through manual rotation of a spark wheel in contact with a pyrophoric element.

One of the objects of this device is to produce a construction in which the sparking wheel will be readily removable for cleaning or renewal purposes and at the same time will, when mounted be fully guarded against contact with the thumb of the user during the wick-igniting operation thereof.

Another object is to improve, simplify and strengthen the construction of this type of lighter, and particularly to simplify and strengthen the construction and mounting of the sparking and operating mechanism thereof, and also to provide a lighter of neat, ornamental appearance, which may be produced at a low cost.

Still another object of this invention is tc produce a construction which may be readily, quickly and easily assembled by unskilled labor and may be demounted for cleaning or renewal and reassembled by the user without the use of any tools.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel mounting of the sparking mechanism composed of a thumb wheel and a spark wheel so that when moved by the thumb of the user in one direction will cause a shower of sparks and ignition of the wick to be produced, while if the pyrophoric element is withdrawn and the thumb wheel rotated in the opposite direction while holding against rotation the spark wheel will cause a raising and demounting of the spark# ing element to enable the lrenewal thereof, if desired.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a bearing for the shaft on which the ignition and operating wheels are mounted which will be supported at one end in the fuel reservoir; will be supported intermediate its ends in a bearing formed in a pan shaped guard and will have vits opposite end unsupported and provided with a spark wheel above the said bearing.

v Another object of the invention is to provide the sparkl wheel with an ornamental members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with eachother in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a cigar lighter embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lighter shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a. section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the sparking and thumb wheels in assembled relationship, the closing head for the wick tube being removed;

Fig. flis a view similar to Fi 3, showing the sparkA and 'thumb-wheels isassembled, while-.the cover tube is arranged in place over the wick;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectionof the upper part of the lighter showing the novel means for mounting the wick-extinguishing head; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. l, looking in the-direction of the arrow.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, l indicates a reservoir which comprises the body of the device and is adapted to be duced through an aperture in the base plate 1 Hwhich is capped by a suitable screw ca 1h.

The reservoir 1 is provided with a wic tube 3 mounted perpendicular to and extending through the top plate 1 of the casing and suitably secured therein, anda wick 4 extends through this tube and into contact with the fuel-saturated material in the reservoir, the upper end of said Wick projecting beyond the upper end of the tube 3.

The upper end of this wick tube 3 1s provided with a flange 3 and is opened and closed by a head 5 having a notch 6 of suicient de th to fit over the upper end of the wick an to rest upon the ange 3 and thus to seal the wick tube and prevent evaporation of the volatile liquid fuel within the reservoir. As illustrated, the head 5 is mounted on a rearwardly-extending arm 7 pivoted ,at its rear end on a pivot pin 8 extending perpendicular to the plate 1a and, as shown, comprising a reduced portion of a projection 9 mounted on the end of the top plate opposite to the .wick tube. The arm 7 is, as shown, provided at its opposite end with a bore 7 having its lower end reduced aS at 7 a to form an abutment for a s ring 9', which is mounted on the reduced portlon 8 and has an abutment at one end against a head of the screw 8 threaded into a tapp'ed hole in said pivot pin and at the other end abuts against the reduced flange portion 7a of the bore 7 The effect of this arrangement is that the head 5 at the outer end of this arm will be permitted to have a limited upward movement to free itself from the wick tube and, furthermore, will permit said arm to have an axial or lateral swinging movement about said perpendicular pivot. Because of the pressure of the spring, this arm will be automatically retained in any position to which it is moved.

A pyrophoric tube 10 is supported intermediate its ends by a standard 11 mounted on and in perpendicular relationship to the top plate la. Said pyrophoric tube is provided with a pyrophoric element 12, see Fig. 6, which is normally pressed in a forward d1- rection by a spring 13 abutting at oneend against a screw 14 threaded in one end of said tube and at the other end pressing against said pyrophoric element 12. Said pyrophoric element is thus resiliently pressed forwardly into contact with a sparking wheel 15 which is made fast in any suitablemanner on a perpendicular shaft 16 supported intermediate its ends, below the spark wheel 15 in a bearing 17 formed, in a dish-shaped linger guard 18 providedfat the forward end of the pyrophoric tube 10. The shaft 16 is provided with means for separable engagement with and disengagement from a thumb wheel 2O arranged below said bearing, and is also preferably provided at its lower end with a reduced bearing portion 16 which is adapted to extend within a bearing aperture 17 in the top plate of the reservoir. As illustrated, the connection between the shaft 16 and the operating wheel 20 comprises cooperating lefthand threads, the shaft 16 being provided with an external left-hand screw thread 19 and the operating wheel being provided with an internal left-hand screw-threaded bore 20.

In order to assemble, the operating wheel 20 is placed with its left-hand screw-threaded bore-20 beneath the bearing 17 and the threaded portion 19 of the shaft 16 is engaged therewith by a movement of the thumb wheel 2O toward the right until the said wheel 2O and shaft 16 are completely locked together, it being understood that the bearing portion 16' will extend through the bearing 17 When the screw-threaded portion is passed through the bearing Aand into engagement with the screw-thread bore 20 of the operating wheel 20, a rotation or turning of the wheel 20 to the left, while the shaft 16 with its sparking wheel 15 is held against rotation, will cause the shaft to be moved downwardly and the parts may be speedily assembled. W'hen the which the earing collar 16B engages the top of the wheel 20,the parts may be thus assembled by a movement of the wheel in the same direction that is required for causing a sparking operation. This is the easiest method of assembly.

Of course, if desired, the wheel 20 may be retained against rotation and the shaft 16 therein by a movement in a reverse'direction. In either case, when it is desired to demount the sparking wheel, all that is necessary to do is to hold the shaft against rotation by manual engagement of the cap of the sparking wheel 15 which is fast thereon and at the same time rotate the operating wheel in the reverse direction from that in which it is normally operated. to produce a spark. When the operating wheel is so rotated, the shaft will be caused to rise and the parts may thus be readily disassembled.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention, we provide on the to of the spark wheel l5 a cap 15 which is pre erably formed of ornamental metal and when the spark wheel and operating wheel is connected as hereinabove described this cap, together with the dish-shaped linger-guard member will provide a substantially complete covering with ornamental material of the sparking wheel at all points except that through which the 'shower of sparks arecaused to pass.

VIn operation,the lighter may be heldin the hand of the user, the head 5 maybe removed from the wick by the thumb. and thereafter movement by the thumb of the operating wheel in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 will cause a shower of incandescent particles or sparks from the pyrophoric element to be projected a ainst the wickwhich, when saturated with t e fuel, as

partshave reached the position in.

ias

p shaped member servin hereinabove described, will be ignited to produce a light for a cigar or the like. The light or flame may be extinguished by agaln moving the head 5 into contact with the wick tube.

Having-describcdourinvention,weclaim:- l. A lighter embodying in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top mounting plate, a wick tube extending perpendicular of said mounting plate, a tube mounted away from but parallel to said top mounting plate, and carrying therein a piece of. pyrophoric material. sparking mechanism arranged at the end of said tube, which comprises a sparking wheel and a thumb-operating u heel separable from each other and having intermediate thereof a bearing portion adapted to seat in an intermediate bearin mounting plate and comprising an extension of the end of the tube formed to provide a dish-shaped member,` serving as a linger guard around'the sparking wheel.

2. The structure recited in claim 1, characterized lin that both the sparking wheel and the thumb wheel are allocated so that both wheels are disposed above and away from the top mounting plate.

3. A lighter embodying in combination, a fuel lreservoir having a top plate, a wick tube ext-ending perpendicular of said top plate and ignition mechanism comprising a tube mounted away from but parallel to said top mounting plate and carrying therein a piece of pyrophoric material, and` sparking mechanism arranged at the end of said tube comprising a sparking wheel, and a thumboperating wheel, separable from each other, but threadedl)v and operatively connected together and having intermediate said wheels a bearing portion adapted to seat in an intermediate bearing formed lon one end of the tube away from said top mounting plate and carrying an extension of the lower end of the tube formed to provide a dishas a finger `guard around the sparking w eel, and said wheel being provided with an ornamental cap atop thereof.

4. A lighter embodying in combination, a

fuel reservoir having a top plate, a wick tubev extending perpendicular of said top' plate,

' an ignition mechanism comprising a tube tube formed to provide a dish-shaped menig lmaterial mounted therein, and sparkin mounted away from but parallel to said top mounting plate having a piece of pyrophorie mechanism arranged at the end of said tub comprising a sparking wheel and a thumboperating wheel, separable from each other, and having a bearing portion intermediate the same, adapted to sit in an intermediate bearing formed on one end of the tube and away from the top mounting plate and carrying an extension of the outer end of the formed on `one end ot said tube and away yrom the top ber serving as a finger' guard aroundV 'the sparking wheel, said wheel being provided with an ornamental cap atop thereof, said connection betweensaid two separable parts of the sparking mechanism being formed byproviding said parts with cooperating screwthreads adapted to tighten the parts together `by a movement of the thumb wheel in the the top mounting plate.

6. A lighter embodying, in combination, a fuel reservoir having a top` mounting plate, a wick tube extending perpendicular of said mounting plate, a second tube mounted away from but parallel to said top mounting plate and having mounted therein a piece' of pyrophoric material, sparking mechanism arranged at the end of said tube comprising a' sparking wheel and a thumb wheel, separably mounted and operatively and threadedly connected together, a supporting bearing formed on one end of said tube and engaging said sparking mechanism between said thumb wheel and said sparking wheel and a ilame eX-v tinguishing sealing rigid member mounted on said mounting plate comprising a head having a wick extinguishing and sealing notch at one end and pivoted on a pivot at the other end arranged perpendicular to the top plate and the v connection between' said arm and pivot having sufficient loose motion to permit 'of raising of said rigid member a limited distance above the wick and a swinging of the same on said perpendicular pivot.

7. A rigid Wick snuEer arm for use in a lighter consisting of a sealing member mounted on the mounting plate of the lighter and which comprises a head having a wicklame extinguishing and sealing notch at one end, and a pivot on the other end of said rigid arm which pivot is arranged perpendicular to sa1d top plate and is resiliently connected to said rigid arm, so as to leave sufficient loose v motion to permit of the raising of said rigid arm, a limited. distance above the wick and perpendicular Uilame extinguishing and wick tube sealing member mounted on said mounting, plate comprising a head having a wick extinginshing and sealing notch at one end and pivoted 'at the other end on a pivot arranged perpendicular to the topv plate, the connection be-V tween said arm aiid pivot ha suicient loose motion to permit raising o the rigidv arm a limited distance above the wick and a swinging of the same on said per ndicular -pivot and a spiral spring having a caring at one end at the opposite end bearing against an abuttment on the arm so as to normally retain the head in a lowered position and also to retain it at any swung-out position to which it may be moved.

zo 9. A wick snuii'er arm for use in a lighter having a top mounting plate consisting of a ame extinguishing and wick tube sealing member mounted on said mounting plate, comprising a head having a wick extinguishing and sealing notch at one end and pivoted at the other end of said rigid arm on a pivot arranged perpendicular to said top plate, and having a resilient connection between said rigid arm and pivot, which has suiicient loose motion to permit of the raising of said rigid arm a limited distance between the wick and swinging out of the same on said perpendicular pivot.

10. A rigid wick-snuffer arm structure for use in a lighter consisting in a standard mounted atop the top plate of the lighter, a pivot secured to said standard, a rigid arm bored at one end to sit on and be secured to said pivot, resilient means securing said arm to said pivot to permit of raising and swinging of said rigid arm thereabout, and a head, located at the outer end of said rigid arm, having a wick-flame extinguishing sealing notch thereon. l f

11. A rigid wick-snuier arm structure for use in a lighter having a top plate consisting in a rigid arm having enlargements at both ends thereof one of said enlargements having a wick-Hama extinguishing sealing notch thereon and the other of said enlargements being bored to provide a hole therethrough.

12. A rigid wick-snuer arm structure for use in a-lighter having a top plate consisting ina rigid arm havin enlargements at both ends thereof one of said enlargements having a wick-flame extinguishing sealing notch thereon and the other of said enlargements being bored to provide a hole therethrough having a reduced portion, a standard mounted atop the top plate, a pivot adapted to be secured to said standard and resilient means seating within said hole, about said pivot and against said reduced portion for securing the arm to the pivot so as to permit of raising and swinging it thereabout.

13. A rigidwick-snuer arm structure for use in a lighter having a top late consisting in a' rigid arm having a wie -ame sealing notch at one end thereof and an enlargement at the other end thereof, a pivot and means for resiliently securing said rigid arm to said ,pivot soA that said arm is universall movable 'mounting plate, a tu e mounted away from but parallel to said top mounting plate and having a piece of pyrophoric material'disposed therein, sparking mechanism arranged at the end of said tube comprising a spark- `in ronded completely smooth ornamental end, a circular fiat end and a reduced shafting portion, a thumb wheel separably mounted and operatively connected thereto, a single supporting bearing formed on one end of said tube adapted to operatively hold said sparking mechanism at said reduced portion by wheel having an abrader surface, a

engaging it between the said thumb and sparking Wheels, and said sparking mechanism also having a bearing in the mountin plate adapted to receive the extension of said shafting. 15. An abrader wheel for use in a cigar lighter having a flat bearing surface, an ornamental completely smooth rounded top end, a cylindrical abrader surface, and reduced means adapted to rotatably support such abrader wheel in contact with an element to be abraded. l

In witness whereof, we have signed our names to the foregoing specification.

JOSEPH F. OBRIEN. ABRAHAM POLLAK. 

